Me: Y’all are way out yonder.
Prodigal: Yep, but we are enjoying it.
Please watch the video below about Proverbs 4:9.
Proverbs 4:9
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: These cookies look so good!
Me: We have some time before we can eat them.
Prodigal: What shall we do?
Me: I have a story.
This is from Donna Griffith
Mom and I always relied on one another. I worked at a fast food restaurant, but before and after my shifts she served me the best home-cooked breakfasts and dinners a girl could want. Plus she gave expert foot rubs, which came in handy. But most of all I looked forward to our evening walks.
One evening we walked down the road to the first major intersection. “Look both ways before you cross,” Mom said.
“Always the mother hen,” I replied. Always trying to take care of me. Just like I’m always trying to take care of her. Lord, I wish we had someone to take care of both of us.
There weren’t any cars coming, so we stepped into the crosswalk. Halfway across the street I heard screeching wheels. A late-model sedan was barreling right for us. There was no time to run. “Jesus,” I mumbled, braced for impact.
That’s when I felt them: two strong hands on my upper arms. The car was so close I could make out specks of dirt on the shiny front grille. But the second before a collision happened, I was lifted into the air. I felt a rush of wind as the car passed me. Somehow I had been taken out of harm’s way just in time.
The next thing I knew I was sitting on the sidewalk across the street, the cook concrete under my palms. Mom! I expected to see her lying injured in the road.
But she wasn’t there. Mom sat a few feet away from me. “Are you all right?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “How are you?”
She sat up straight, and took a big stretch. “I feel fine, thanks to that man,” she said.
“What man?” I asked.
“The man who picked me up and carried me over here just as the front of that car brushed past me. How on earth did you get out of the way in time?”
“The man who helped you must have had a friend.”
We looked around in either direction for our saviors, but there was no one in sight. I was unsure about exactly what had happened, but I’d never felt so cared for, so safe and secure, either.
1 Corinthians 11:7
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: Just dropped off my present.
Me: It must have been big to have to carry it in that wagon.
Prodigal: It was, and I hope it is enjoyable.
This is from the book Life Essentials: Knowing God better, Experiencing God deeper and Loving God more by Tony Evans
When it’s all said and done, then, spiritual growth does not primarily depend on what is happening around you, but on what is happening inside of you. Growth comes from the inside out, which is the way God designed all of His creation to function. Full-grown oak trees don’t just appear. Neither do full-grown Christians. But all the requirements for growth are there.
Spiritual growth is the process of expanding and releasing what is on the inside so that it becomes visible on the outside. What God often does is apply the heat and the pressure to bring about this release. That’s why our greatest times of spiritual growth are almost always our times of greatest trial.
We cannot see the growth that is taking place day by day as we lean on Christ, and as we pray more, and more. A habit is growing one that says I must turn to Him if I am to make it through this at all. What a great habit that is to learn even if it seems difficult at the moment.
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: I’ll be doggone, if I didn’t forget something at the house.
Prodigal: We all have things like that happen.
Me: We can still continue with the video
Here is a video on the book of proverbs. I am discussing proverbs 4:8 today.
Click here to watch the video.
Proverbs 4:8
Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: Well golly, I wasn’t expecting y’all.
Me: I just felt like you needed a visit.
Prodigal: Your probably right.
I had two cats. One was the mother, and one was her son. The mother cat named Faith came into my life when she was around 8-12 weeks old. She was found in an oil drum outside of a mechanic shop crying as loud as she could. She was very afraid.
I took her home, and took her to the vet. The vet told me she was born deaf. He showed me how she doesn’t move when noises are made. He also showed me how visual she was.
Faith had one litter when she was 8 months old. They were born in my house. One son was deaf. I immediately decided to keep him, and named him Happy. The other two were given to wonderful homes.
As the years went by, I noticed a difference between the two deaf cats. Faith was scared of anything sudden. Her deafness became a way to fear the world. Happy’s deafness made him not afraid of anything.
Without hearing, a lot of things became surprises in their world. If she closed her eyes, too sleep. The world changed around her without knowing. I could leave without knowing, I could come home. It could start raining, or get dark outside, and she would not know. Someone new could come over, and she would be surprised because she did not hear them. She would open her eyes, and it would scare her to see something so unexpected.
Happy though would be the opposite. He would close his eyes, someone new would be here, and he would be happy for the surprise.
I saw these patterns over, and over again everyday. Faith passed away, and she remained afraid everyday.
Happy remains happy over everything.
I couldn’t help, but see us in these two. I couldn’t help, but see that we respond to God in the same way.
God sees all, so it is almost like we are missing an extra sense, like we are deaf. We have surprises that show up. God was not surprised though. Some of us react in fear every time.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I think Faith early on in life had some experiences that were scary. Even though she had moved to a safe home, she could not let go of her fears.
We have all had some experiences that can create fear, but in truth. God is a safe place for us to go to. If we seek Him. If we go where he calls us to. We do not have to fear. We do not have to be afraid of what surprises show up that day or week.
Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
I know that surprises have happened. You don’t understand how they could have happened suddenly. Just like faith could not understand when she opened her eyes, and new people were suddenly there. God is not surprised though. He can see more. As long as we seek God, we really do not have to fear.
Happy would see the same people that showed up as a surprise, and he choose to feel no fear about the surprise. Happy trusted that where he was was safe.
God has you in a safe place. He will help you. He will help you step by step, and you are not alone.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Don’t fall prodigal!
Prodigal: Pride comes before the fall.
Me: That is right!
This is from the book Believe and Rejoice by James P. Gills, M.D.
A relinquished heart requires purity and separation from our base human attitudes, which are constantly within us regardless of how close we are to the Lord. We frequently think we have the answer. In fact, in our own egotism we think we are “the answer” and frequently do not turn to Christ.
True humility results from submitting our lives to God and worshiping Him. We are not humble by nature. Humility is not something we can decide to acquire. We become humble only as we love and follow Him. And our submission to Him becomes all-consuming–affecting every part of our body, permeating us, and directing us. Humility is reflected in our lives when we are molded by the Holy Spirit.
Please Lord make sure that I am submitted to you. I know how quickly I can think I have the answer. I also can think that your way is not what is best for me. I just need you Lord. I can’t even submit to you without your help today.
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Matthew 4:16
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: There is a whole crowd gathered today.
Me: I don’t have a problem with that.
Here is a short of video on my proverbs series. Today is the video discussing Proverbs 4:7
click here to watch my video on proverbs
Proverbs 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: We are having fun!
Me: It looks like it.
Prodigal: Fun with those you love.
This is from the book Let the Journey Begin by Max Lucado
It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.
In a few minutes the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.
For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose love…
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical… the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness…
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness…
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gently. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control…
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impressed only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:17
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: That looks like a place to say something important.
Prodigal: Well, now there is pressure.
Me: How about I help out.
Prodigal: I would love that!
This is from Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado
O Lord, I have been called to be part of a holy community. You did not call me in isolation but placed me in the body of Christ, along with every other believer in Jesus through out the world in every age. Let us grow as a team, work as a team, worship as a team, weep, laugh, and live as a team. Grant me the wisdom and the strength to partner with you and with my brothers and sisters in Christ. For Jesus, sake and in his name I pray, amen.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: We must love God, and love others.
Prodigal: Amen, that is straight talkin’
click here to watch my video on Proverbs
Proverbs 4:6
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
